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Using WiFi to Bridge the Digital Divide
andori writes "CNN is running a story about how WiFi is enabling low-income residents Internet access. The project is set at a public housing development in Boston, Massachusetts. Residents buy the WiFi NIC, and the access if free. It is nice to see people making an effort to expand the reach of the Internet to a broader audience."
The apartments I live in are inhabited by a bunch of broke ass young adults such as myself. Me and 7 or 8 of my geek friends in this all pitch in on a leased line and then operate a WiFi hotspot for anyone in the apartment to use.
The problem we run into most is still the cost of the hardware. For people who don't make alot of money, getting started can really take some sacrafice.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.
This rules - another way we can keep information free to all, especially to people who can use it to improve their lives. Someday broadband will be a reliable public utility.
I also reply below your current threshold.
It allows them to reasonably download free OS's and software that will run reasonably on a 486?
Linux, BSD and GNU are virtual Godsends to the poor. Third world countries aren't the only ones who can benefit in this manner. The poor everywhere are poor, and having lived in third world countries, in almost pure hunter gatherer conditions, I must say from my own experience that the poor in many of these places are considerably better off than the residents of public housing in rich countries.
"Stone Age" living is still independant living, where one can at least tend to one's own wants and needs in some manner.
The citified poor have been reduced to a state of utter dependency where even their God given abilites to fare for themselves are, for the most part, denied.
Can the poor with a $10 dollar used 486 benefit from broadband. Damned effin' straight they can.
KFG
I can't believe the number of people I see here who are speaking out "against" wide-spread, free, broadband internet-access. And the majority of the people with something negative to say, seem to be saying it because they don't feel that "poor people" are responsible enough to use the internet.
You can think I'm over-reacting, but you should just reread some of the messages that have been posted here. I think free, broadband access in the homes of people who can't afford it is just great.
I think the internet is one of the keys to providing better education and opportunity to those people born into such circumstance that opportunities are rare. Will some people abuse it? Sure...but so? Better they are sitting at home surfing for free porn then some of the other alternatives they could be doing with their lives.
There have been times in my life when money was tight. Because I haven't always had priviledge, does that mean I'm not responsible enough to have as broad a spectrum of rights and opportunities as others? Open your minds...
Craenor
We lost a customer that way about 8 weeks ago.
Tech: How can I help you?
Customer: I would like to cancel my account.
Tech: Ok... [procedure] And if I may ask, why are you leaving us?
Customer: Yeah, I got wireless internet access.
Tech: Oh? There's a wireless provider in your area?
Customer: Yep- my neighbor's offering it.
Tech: Goodness, we had no idea- what is the name of their business?
Customer: Oh he ain't no business, he doesnt even know I'm using it. Anyways, thanks, goodbye
We were all astonished that someone would steal like that and then tell the truth to one of the few organizations that would actually bother figuring out who was letting people leech like that unknowingly...
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